MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — The Conrail Historical Society has orchestrated a trade of two Conrail cabooses to ensure the preservation of both, the organization has announced. The society has traded former N-20 class wide-vision caboose No. 22130, which it previously owned, to the Garbely Publishing Co. for its former N-21 class bay window caboose No. 21292. […]
ROANOKE, Va. — A review of the Virginia Museum of Transportation operations found no signs of mismanagement, the museum has announced. WDBJ-TV reports the investigation by law firm Gentry Locke was conducted at the museum’s request after six board members resigned at a June meeting. The departing board members voiced about museum management, including how […]
I haven’t counted every last owner one time or another of Florida East Coast 4-6-2 No. 148, but it must be close to a record. For a mainline-size engine, the Pacific was incredibly peripatetic, sort of like former Burlington 2-8-2 No. 4960 before it landed at the Grand Canyon Railway. The 148 emerged from Alco’s […]
Locomotives in the scrapyard Sitting switchers The switcher is a rapidly-dying species on American railroads. Pushed out of yard duties on the Class I railroads by demoted road units (like ex-BNSF No. 2224, at top), they soon became most noticeable on industrial sites, switching cars for grain elevators and warehouse complexes. However, the proliferation of […]
OWOSSO, Mich. — The norm for most operating steam locomotives around this time is to call it a season and begin receiving routine maintenance in preparation for the new year. For Pere Marquette 2-8-4 No. 1225, the Berkshire-type is still in the midst of its 2024 season, having completed fall excursions in late October and […]
CASS, W.Va — Cass Scenic Railroad operator Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad has announced its 2025 winter Greenbrier Express excursions from Cass to Durbin, W.Va., and return, beginning Jan. 18. Trains will operate Saturdays and Sundays from Jan. 18 to Feb. 23, 2025, departing at 10 a.m. for a round trip of about 5 hours. […]
TOPEKA, Kan. — A non-profit group seeks some $1 million to move and cosmetically restore a Santa Fe 4-6-4 long on display in Topeka but that has experienced significant neglect and deterioration since the 1990s, the Topeka Capital-Journal reports. Hudson No. 3463, built by Baldwin in 1937, is the only surviving member of a class […]
HARTFORD, Wis. — A bit too early to be kicking off the holiday season? That certainly wasn’t the case for Soo Line No. 1003, the Steam Locomotive Heritage Association, and Downtown Hartford. The 2-8-2 was in steam on Nov. 9, 2024, for the annual Santa Train to precede the city’s Christmas Parade. Mike Raia, president […]
SILVER SPRING, Md. — The National Capital Trolley Museum has added an Evans Auto-Railer — a 1930s vehicle designed to operate on both roads and railways — to its collection. The vehicle operated on the Arlington & Fairfax Railway from 1936 to 1939, providing service between Rosslyn, Va., to Fairfax City and Fort Myer, near […]
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The final operations of the 2024 season for Santa Fe No. 2926 can be described as a photo finish. The 1944-built 4-8-4 was chartered by Pete Lerro for a private photo shoot on Oct. 28-29. Originally planned to be entirely at the Rail Yards complex in Downtown Albuquerque for both days, a […]
A new steam restoration group has purchased former Chesapeake & Ohio Class J3a 4-8-4 passenger locomotive No. 614 (Lima Locomotive Works, 1948) and plans to return it to operating condition. RJD America LLC, a group of railroaders and businessmen with ties to the engine, has completed the purchase from American Freedom Train Foundation, Inc., according […]
Is it time to preserve an Amtrak Genesis P40? Since 1993, Amtrak’s iconic Genesis diesels have hauled countless millions of passengers across its network. From Sunset Limited to Downeaster, the Genesis has been the locomotive for generations of Amtrak travelers. While the Genesis models remain among the most common locomotives for long distance passenger service, […]
